Environment & Ecology

Ginormous misunderstanding – the complexities of GMOs

September 18, 2025 by and

In this scientific opinion article, Ben Wollack examines the promises and risks of GMOs in America's agricultural and social landscapes.
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Rooted in place: How traditional ecological knowledge is transforming environmental studies at UCSB

August 11, 2025 by

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is defined by the Indigenous Climate Hub as the “cumulative body of knowledge, practices, and beliefs about the relationship between living beings and their en...
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Tree rings: Reshaping climate change measurements and unnatural contributions

May 15, 2025 by

On May 5, the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management continued its Bren Seminar series with Postdoctoral Researcher Julie Edwards. Edwards’ lecture “Climate Change Detection and Attribu...
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What’s in the water? Domoic acid poisons marine mammals along Southern California coast

April 24, 2025 by

Since late March, beachgoers have encountered hundreds of washed-up animals suffering from domoic acid poisoning with symptoms that include seizures, erratic and dangerous behavior and comas.
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UCSB student organizations making strides in sustainability

April 17, 2025 by and

From educating future environmental scientists to building rainwater catchment systems in Rwanda, these student-led organizations are at the heart of UC Santa Barbara’s sustainability efforts. 
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Author Richard Powers speaks on the intersections of science, literature and environmental loss

March 6, 2025 by

On Feb. 23, bestselling author Richard Powers prompted an audience of nearly 800 people in Campbell Hall to consider the environment as more than just a literary backdrop but a living, breathing and e...
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The Buzz Around the bee exhibit: A look at Santa Barbara’s pollinators

March 6, 2025 by

An exciting new exhibit, “Through the Looking Glass: A Microscopic Look at our Native Bees,” has been installed at the UC Santa Barbara library to showcase some of the true local bees in the area ...
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The hidden environmental cost of groundbreaking AI models

January 30, 2025 by

Although large language models are an exciting piece of innovation that have vastly transformed the landscape of information technology, the environmental impacts of AI are often ignored and swept und...
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UCSB student selected for prestigious Land Trust Alliance and USDA Conservation Scholars Program

November 21, 2024 by

Lena Rose Ouse Hicks, a fourth-year environmental studies major with a minor in American Indian and Indigenous Studies at UC Santa Barbara, has been awarded the prestigious 2024–25 Scholars for Cons...
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UCSB secures $22 million NSF grant to explore unusual microbes

September 23, 2024 by

The BioFoundry for Extreme & Exceptional Fungi, Archaea and Bacteria was one of five facilities awarded a $22 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
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UCSB’s MCDB department introduces new major

August 5, 2024 by

Embracing the dynamic landscape of biology, UC Santa Barbara introduces a new major, molecular and cellular biology (MCB), offering students the flexibility to forge their own learning path. As the ex...
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Maykonome: Conservationist and photographer Cristina Mittermeier speaks on ocean protection efforts

May 23, 2024 by

On Friday, May 10, Cristina Mittermeier spoke as part of UC Santa Barbara’s Arts and Lectures “Earth, Air, Fire, Water” series, sharing with audiences her experiences as a photographer and how t...
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Diversifying the outdoors with wildlife biologist Rae Wynn-Grant

May 16, 2024 by

Four-time Emmy-nominated ecologist, television personality, author and Bren School of Environmental Science and Management researcher Rae Wynn-Grant spoke at the Pacific View Room at UC Santa Barbara ...
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“What if We Get it Right?”: Author Ayana Elizabeth Johnson urges audience to consider the possibility of creating a climate-friendly future

May 16, 2024 by

On May 7, UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures hosted marine biologist, policy expert and author Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.
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NYU professor proposes solutions for sustainable agriculture at Bren Hall

May 9, 2024 by

On April 29 Sonali McDermid, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at New York University, presented at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren Hall to share her expertise on sustainable methods of reducing ...
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